Stacking sterilizing tray system

Abstract

A sterilization, transporting and storage container tray assembly for a surgical instrument kit comprises a plurality of trays for accommodating surgical instruments, and a rack for holding the trays in a stacked arrangement. The trays are slidably, removably mounted in the rack, and are accessible from the side of the rack. A removable cap is provided for locking the trays in position in the rack, i.e. for transportation, sterilization and storage.

We claim: 
     
       1. A stacking sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing, transporting and storing surgical instruments, and comprising a rack comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and four side walls, at least one of said side walls being removable to provide an open side, a plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack and removable through said open side of said rack, a plurality of spaced openings in said trays and at least the top and bottom walls of said assembly for permitting ingress and egress of sterilant therethrough for sterilizing surgical instruments placed on said trays and positioned in said rack, wherein said trays are slidably mounted on rails which are adjustably mounted in said rack, at least one of said pairs of rails including a cover member integrally formed therewith, for covering said trays when stored in said rack. 
     
     
       2. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising means for selectively closing the open side of said rack. 
     
     
       3. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 2, wherein said means for selectively closing comprises a removable wall. 
     
     
       4. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 3, and including means for selectively locking said removable wall to said rack. 
     
     
       5. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 4, wherein said means for selectively locking comprises a spring tab. 
     
     
       6. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 4, wherein said means for locking comprises a handle rotatably mounted on said removable wall, and arranged to drive rods into engagement with the rack. 
     
     
       7. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 3, and wherein said removable wall comprises a lifting handle. 
     
     
       8. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising means for selectively locking said plurality of trays slideably mounted in said rack. 
     
     
       9. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said trays includes a respective plurality of spaced openings which are aligned with other respective openings in top and bottom walls of said assembly. 
     
     
       10. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cover member also includes additional respective pluralities of openings which are aligned with said other respective openings. 
     
     
       11. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one outer assembly wall cutout. 
     
     
       12. A stacking sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing, transporting and storing surgical instruments, and comprising a rack having at least one open side, a plurality of rails adjustably mounted in said rack, a plurality of trays slidably mounted on said rails and removable through said open side of said rack, a plurality of spaced openings in said trays and at least one outer wall of said assembly for permitting ingress and egress of sterilant therethrough for sterilizing surgical instruments placed on said trays, and positioned in said rack, and further comprising a cover member integrally formed with at least one of said pairs of rails, for covering said trays when stored in said rack. 
     
     
       13. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 12, wherein said at least one cover member also includes additional respective pluralities of opening which are aligned with said other respective openings. 
     
     
       14. A stacking sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing, transporting and storing surgical instruments, and comprising a rack having at least one open side, a plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack and removable through said open side of said rack, a plurality of spaced openings in said trays and at least one outer wall of said assembly for permitting ingress and egress of sterilant therethrough for sterilizing surgical instruments placed on said trays, cover members mounted in said rack for covering said trays when positioned in said rack, and means for selectively locking said plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack, wherein said means for selectively locking comprise resiliently deformable spring members carried on said rack, and arranged to engage detents in said tray. 
     
     
       15. A stacking sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing, transporting and storing surgical instruments, and comprising a rack having at least one open side, a plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack and removable through said open side of said rack, a plurality of spaced openings in said trays and at least one outer wall of said assembly for permitting ingress and egress of sterilant therethrough for sterilizing surgical instruments placed on said trays, cover members mounted in said rack for covering said trays when positioned in said rack, and means for selectively locking said plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack, wherein said means for selectively locking comprises resiliently deformable spring members carried on said trays arranged to engage detents in said rack. 
     
     
       16. A sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing, transporting and storing surgical instruments, and comprising a rack having at least one open side, a plurality of trays slidably mounted in said rack and removable through said open side of said rack, and a plurality of spaced openings in said trays and at least one outer wall of said assembly for permitting ingress and egress of steriliant therethrough for sterilizing said instruments when said instruments are placed on said trays, wherein said rack comprises a plurality of perforated webs, said webs each comprising a plurality of tracks integrally formed with a respective plurality of cover members, each said web being for providing a respective cover for a respective underlying tray when said respective tray is positioned in respective tracks associated with said respective cover member, each of said cover members having a respective plurality of apertures for permitting ingress and egress of surgical instrument sterilant therethrough. 
     
     
       17. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 16, wherein said tracks are adjustable. 
     
     
       18. A sterilization tray assembly according to claim 16, wherein windows are formed in sidewalls of said tracks for accommodating springs fixed to said rails.